Introducing the new Business Investor Visa – an opportunity for SMEs!24 Nov 2025

New Zealand’s immigration landscape continues to evolve with the introduction of the Business Investor Visa (BIV). This new visa enables experienced businesspeople to invest at least NZ$1 million to purchase an established business in New Zealand and replaces the long-standing Entrepreneur visa category.

The Entrepreneur visa, in place since 1999, became increasingly complex due to frequent policy changes and unrealistic policy settings. High decline rates and inconsistent outcomes left many migrants, who had invested significant savings and endeavour, without the resident visa outcome they had expected. Industry stakeholders had long called for its replacement, recognising that while attracting serial entrepreneurs is desirable, the policy settings required to manage risk and expectations often stifled genuine entrepreneurial activity.

The new BIV is designed for experienced businesspeople who have the required financial resources and want to own and operate an existing business in New Zealand. The primary focus of the BIV is on employment retention and growth, rather than imposing rigid future business outcome requirements which are always difficult to forecast, let alone meet, even for existing business operators.

There are two BIV pathways:

  • Standard Pathway: Minimum investment of NZ$1 million in a qualifying business, with a three-year pathway to residence.
  • Fast-Track Pathway: Minimum investment of NZ$2 million, with a one-year pathway to residence, provided the business creates jobs and meets specific growth criteria.

Note: The investment amount cannot include any real estate component.

Applicants must:

  • Have a minimum of 3 years’ business experience
  • Be aged 55 years or younger
  • Meet English language requirements
  • Have NZ$500,000 available in addition to their business investment
  • Conduct appropriate due diligence on the business
  • Acquire at least 25% ownership of the business
  • Actively operate the business in New Zealand

The business being purchased must:

  • Have been established for at least 5 years
  • Employ at least 5 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees and be able to create 1 new role
  • Be compliant with all employment and regulatory laws
  • Not be an excluded business (e.g., franchises, fast food outlets, convenience stores, etc.)

One of the most compelling aspects of the BIV is its potential to address succession planning in New Zealand’s SME sector. Thousands of small businesses are owned by individuals nearing retirement. The BIV provides a pathway for business-savvy migrants to buy into these businesses, injecting fresh energy, capital, and global experience. This can maintain, recapitalize and reinvigorate businesses that might otherwise were looking to close or wind down.

For business accountants, professionals, and business brokers, the BIV opens new opportunities to help SME clients plan successful exits, and to maximise the value of their hard work and intellectual property acquired over many years, while, importantly, preserving employees jobs. This BIV has to be a win-win for all parties.

The BIV complements the successful Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa by targeting business migrants who may not have the capital required for the AIP but who wish to own and operate a business in New Zealand. The BIV does not cater for establishing new businesses and the Government is considering other visa options in this regard but, as noted earlier, this is a complex policy area which may take time and prove challenging to resolve.

The BIV has a very different focus from previous business visa policies and while it may take a little time for New Zealand business owners, and their advisers, to understand and respond to this new opportunity, the BIV has real potential and we look forward to it delivering wide-ranging and positive impacts across New Zealand’s SME sector in the future.

Contact Pathways® licensed immigration advisers on +64 7 8349222 today for a free, no-obligation assessment of your eligibility.